Highland Fling: A Ransom & Fortune Adventure: A Ransom & Fortune Adventure, #1

By Michelle Miles

A girl, a hit man and a time machine may be more than Dane Fortune can handle.

 

Skye Ransom's peaceful college life is altered when her parents are both killed on the same day within hours of each other. But when she receives a strange package in the mail after her father's death, it contains a small device with no explanation. Desperate to find out what it is, she goes to her father's lab to get answers—and is nearly killed by a hit man. The mysterious Dane Fortune offers her protection, leaving her no choice but to accept.

 

Ex-military man Dane Fortune is hired by a brilliant inventor to protect his life and the lives of his family. But when the inventor and his wife are taken out by a hit man before the job even gets started, Dane knows he has to get to their daughter before something happens to her. Keeping her safe becomes more difficult than he anticipates as more than one foe is after her and a device she doesn't even know she possesses—a small-scale time machine.

 

With the hit man and the NSA hot on their trail, Skye inadvertently transports them back in time to the thirteenth century where they find themselves in the middle of Scotland's battle for independence from England. At the mercy of the time machine—and learning to trust each other—they have to find a way back home before they're trapped in the past forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dusty Tome Publishing
• Release date: Feb 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781540197252

Michelle Miles

Michelle Miles believes in fairy tales, true love and magic. She writes heart-stopping urban fantasy, epic fantasy and paranormal romance with an action/adventure twist that will leave you breathless. She is the author of numerous series that includes everything from angels and demons to fairies, dragons and elves. She is married with one son and a black cat named Sir Dexter. A native Texan, in her spare time she loves reading, listening to music, watching movies, cross-stitching, drinking wine and taking pictures of her cat. She can be found online at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Goodreads. Your Adventure Awaits

Book preview

Highland Fling

A Ransom & Fortune Adventure, Volume 1

This title was previously published as part one of A Bend in Time.

SKYE RANSOM’S PEACEFUL college life is altered when her parents are both killed on the same day within hours of each other. But when she receives a strange package in the mail after her father’s death, it contains a small device with no explanation. Desperate to find out what it is, she goes to her father’s lab to get answers—and is nearly killed by a hit man. The mysterious Dane Fortune offers her protection, leaving her no choice but to accept.

Ex-military man Dane Fortune is hired by a brilliant inventor to protect his life and the lives of his family. But when the inventor and his wife are taken out by a hit man before the job even gets started, Dane knows he has to get to their daughter before something happens to her. Keeping her safe becomes more difficult than he anticipates as more than one foe is after her and a device, she doesn’t even know she possesses—a small-scale time machine.

With the hit man and the NSA hot on their trail, Skye inadvertently transports them back in time to the thirteenth century where they find themselves in the middle of Scotland’s battle for independence from England. At the mercy of the time machine—and learning to trust each other—they have to find a way back home before they’re trapped in the past forever.

Chapter One: The Time Bender

DANE FORTUNE PULLED his vehicle into the parking lot of Goldenrod Research Technology and parked. He leaned back in the leather seat, gazing up at the four-story glass and metal building wondering why the CEO, William Ransom, felt the need to hire him. All he knew about the company was they developed new technology for computer companies.

What was so dangerous about that?

He knew even less about the CEO other than what he’d read on the company website. William Ransom was former military with a genius level IQ and an almost mad-scientist persona. According to his bio, he was married, had one child, and liked to garden in his spare time. He lived in a million-dollar house in the suburbs of Arlington, Virginia, not far from where GRT, as it was called, was located.

Dane exited the car and headed into the building where he was met by two security guards behind a long desk. A computer screen with Welcome! To begin, tap here and the company logo faced him. He was greeted with icy stares and a chilly reception from both of them.

I’m here to see Mr. Ransom.

One of the guards stood and pointed to the screen. Please sign in with your name and contact information.

Dane blinked. Why do you need contact information?

Do you have an appointment? the guard asked, his tone clipped.

Yes.

Sign in and I will alert his assistant.

It didn’t escape him the guard refused to answer his question.

With a shake of his head, Dane used his forefinger to type in his name and phone number, the date and the time of his appointment. The security guard handed him a visitor badge, then motioned to the small seating area in the lobby.

You can wait there.

Dismissed, Dane moved to the ultra-contemporary chairs and had just sat when a woman exited the elevator and headed toward him. The only sound was that of her heels clicking on the tile floor. She was dressed in a smart business suit—straight skirt, jacket and white shirt. Her dark hair was pulled up into a tight bun at the back of her head. She smiled as she approached.

You must be Mr. Fortune. I’m Louise, William’s assistant. She extended her hand as he got to his feet.

He shook her hand. Nice to meet you.

If you’ll follow me. She waved to the elevators. He’s expecting you.

The security guards eyed him as he followed the woman to the elevator. They rode up to the fourth floor in silence. At the glass doors, she used her badge to gain entry and then turned left down a long hallway.

The office space was decorated in monochromatic colors. White walls. Gray cubes. Grayer carpet. They passed a group of cubicles heading to the wall of offices at the back. She halted at the one in the corner, gave a brief knock and announced him. She motioned Dane inside.

The corner office was huge. The desk was centered in the room with a conference table big enough for twelve on one side and a small conversation area on the other with a sofa, loveseat, two chairs, and a glass and metal coffee table in the center.

Could I get you water or coffee?

Dane shook his head. No, thanks.

As he entered the large corner office, a man with salt-and-pepper hair rounded the desk to greet him. He wore slacks and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows.

Dane Fortune, nice to meet you.

Louise closed the door behind her as she exited. William punched a button on a remote and the electric shades descended, blocking out the morning sun and view of the employee parking lot behind the building. Beyond the lot, a greenbelt.

Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mr. Fortune.

It’s Dane. What can I do for you, sir? He lowered into one of the chairs, lacing his fingers and leaning his forearms on his knees.

Please call me William. I intend for our working relationship to be a close one and, God willing, long term. He poured a cup of coffee, added cream and sugar, and then took the seat opposite him. He took a sip. Do you have any idea what the company does?

Not much. Something about computers.

He smiled. Yes, we’ve helped develop new faster processors for computers such as Dell and HP. The gaming industry is very interested in our virtual reality developments as well. He paused, took another sip. But we also have government contracts. Most of the technology we develop for them is top secret and requires top secret clearance to work on the projects. NASA and DARPA are particularly interested in our work here.

A sudden tingling sensation prickled the back of his neck. He understood, then, why William Ransom might feel like his life was in jeopardy if his company was working with an agency like DARPA.

I used to be a military man myself before I entered the private sector, he continued, sounding as though he was reminiscing about the past. I turned down a lucrative opportunity with the Department of Defense, but it seems once they realize what you can do, they don’t want to let you go. He gave a stiff smile.

Dane’s brows drew together. Where was he going with this?

The company is a federally funded research and development center. With DARPA, we’re committed to creating major breakthroughs for national security, William continued. We also worked with NASA on their latest manned mission to Mars. You may have heard about that in the news.

Dane nodded as he leaned back in his chair. He dropped his foot to the floor. I did hear about that. Is that why you want to hire me as part of your executive protection team?

"You are the executive protection team, Dane." He grinned again before taking another sip of coffee, then placed the cup on the glass table in front of him.

You mean you don’t have anyone else on the team?

Not yet, no. But it’s come to my attention I’m in need of protection. As is my wife and daughter. I’ve received death threats. William rose and walked across the room to his desk. He rummaged through a drawer, pulled out a folder and walked back to Dane, handing it to him.

Dane took the folder, flipped it open. He was faced with letter after letter threatening not only William’s life but his family’s. Ugly death threats with details of specific things this person wanted to do to the wife and daughter before killing them and then killing William. His stomach knotted into a tight fist as he looked up at the man who sat calmly across from him.

How long has this been going on? Dane asked.

Two weeks. It started with one letter I received here, then quickly escalated. I’ve been getting them at the house. It’s been difficult to keep my wife from seeing them. Yesterday, a decapitated cat appeared on the front doorstep.

I’m beginning to understand why you need protection. Dane flipped the folder closed. He dropped it on the table.

William nodded agreement. This is a job working directly for me. All you have to do is name your price.

My security company charges—

No. He shook his head. You misunderstand. Not your security company. You.

Dane stared at him a long moment. Are you asking for around the clock protection for the three of you?

Yes.

He shook his head. I need a team for that. At least five guys who are trained for something like that.

Like you? William sat back in the sofa. I read your file.

Dane cocked his head to one side. My file?

Former Army Ranger with a stint in the Secret Service. You left when you failed to protect the First Lady during the assassination attempt on President Kunkle’s life. You blame yourself for her death when in reality you were the only reason the president and his teenage son are alive today. You joined Peregrine Protection Agency three years ago as a consultant in security for high-level executives. You’ve consulted on jobs in all industries, from oil and gas to engineering to banking.

Dane clenched his jaw. He hadn’t fully grasped how resourceful William Ransom was. If he knew that much about his work life, what did he know about his personal life? Did you enjoy digging into my past?

No. It’s not something I enjoy. But it was necessary. I have many friends still in the military and the Department of Defense as well as the Secret Service. You were the best at what you did and came highly recommended, William said. And that’s why I want to hire you.

Dane took a deep breath, exhaled it. It’s a job bigger than one person.

It is. He nodded agreement. "But I can’t have more than one person on the job. My wife is...fragile. She’s battling a